Archive for January, 2009|Monthly archive page

As a general rule, frequent and long running strikes are a symptom of an irrationality in society that cannot be resolved through the moral and legal framework. The only useful, long term benefit of a strike is if it manages to bring problems to the surface and leads in some way to a permanent solution.

Other than this, a strike does not serve long term interests, even of the strikers. Gains today have to be paid for tomorrow. Heavy handed action to prevent or resolve strikes will only serve to make the problem worse.

The lesson that could have been learnt is that the only way pricing of products can be fair if it is determined by market supply and demand and not by government officials or politicians. The present system of subsidies only robs Peter to pay Paul and is fair to neither. Peter is deprived of the enjoyment his money can bring and Paul becomes a parasite.

But now this lesson will not be learnt and such strikes and civil unrest will continue to plague India for times to come.